Diet and Movement Dynamics of Lesser Long-Nosed Bats in their Northern Range
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Lesser long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae), the only endangered bat species delisted due to recovery, are crucial migratory pollinators but remain a species of conservation concern. Each spring, they migrate approximately 1,600 km from southern Mexico to the southwestern U.S. along a hypothesized "nectar corridor" of blooming cacti and agave species. Climate change threatens to significantly reduce agave habitat within the next 50 years, potentially disrupting this migratory path.
In New Mexico, the arrival of lesser long-nosed bats coincides with the blooming of Palmer's agave (Agave palmeri). Unfortunately, regional droughts have led to declines in agave populations and potential mismatches between bat presence and the agave bloom. My seminar will discuss research along the U.S.-Mexico border, exploring how resource availability, habitat conditions, and innate behaviors influence nectar bats’ movement dynamics. I will address how agave nectar availability influences bat migration timing and how their diet varies with nectar availability and drought conditions. Our findings reveal the bats' adaptable foraging behaviors and dietary flexibility, providing crucial insights for conservation strategies amid climate change.
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